The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-16
OLD TOM HEMPER.

camp iire. The party numbered -
men, some OF them being English
tourists, and they were uu,lsturbe,i Tor
two weeks after getting down TO what
Is called the great elbow OF tho Cana
dian. Then Indian signs became very
fresh, and one morning Old Tom started
out on n scout. Two other Old hunters
with the party remained in camp
Tho Canadian runs alongside OF n
mountain range for several hundred
miles, and this range IS broken with
many small valleys and creeks. Tom
went to the east rs lie LEFT camp, keep
ing between the foot h...s ami ,Hc river.
lie was on loot and a,eTt, bat after 4
wax OF an hour he discovered no signs,
and had 10 conclude that the IniIan5
had approached from the other dIrec-
ton. just ~ no was on the point of
turning back he found spring oi ice
sod water, and had TO lie down on his
stomach TO reach it and satisfy his
tHirst. lie was drinking when some
Ih!a. alI.hted on his back. Ills first
thought WAS that it was panther, but
next instant he SAW the ie-.:in-s OF u
redsSIn, and knew that hc wIs 4 pris-
oner. When pulled 10 his feet he
found himself IN the presence OF three
ComanchCs, who were ont after game
HIS great surprise seemed 10 please them
immrns!y, and they offered him no
violence whatever. lie Was first I'M
armed. his hands then tied behind his
back, and the Indians gave him to- un-
derstaud that he wis to accompany
them 10 their village. While there
WIS no Indian war ~ that time, the
savages were hostile to any AMI all
white men who invaded their domain,
lnd old Tom swiftly realized that hc
was in bad scrape. lie could speak
AMI understand the Comanche dialect
with perfect ease, but this fact he kept
TO himself As they moved away ono
OF his ca aptOrs said:
"IIe IS an old hunter, and We shall
have a good time burning him. He is
probably the leader of tho party be-
low"
Tho prisoner was conducted about
three mics up the river and a mile to
the east, At which point 4 COmanche
village WAS located. Ii was in = valley
about three miles long AMI mile Wide,
and COnIaInci OO or 20 iolsrS. Nearly
all the warriors OF The village were away
watching the white party, but rs soon
aS the pgIs Jner entered lna N...-.,, = =
messenger WAS dispatched to bring
them in. Before noon all h9 returned
and there was great rejo!riuS over the
capture OF the hunter. The head chief
OF the tribe was expected at the camp
on the morrow, and il was decided not
10 10 anything with the prisoner until
his arrival.
Tom WAS showed into a lodge and
three warriors placed on guard over
him. Tom heard the friends discussing
in what ways they should torture him.
One of the guards said that he had seen
white man hung up to limb with a
stick trust through the bones OF his
legs, as the farmer hangs up = slaughter
ell hog. and that he lived for hall a day.
One wanted to skin him alive, another
believed in n slow fire, and almost every
one who came up had 4 suggestion 10
make. Il Was conceded that lac would
die game. and that his eqsal had NOT
been captured Tor years
It was o'clock next morning before
the big chief and his staff arrived. and
an hour later the prisoner was brought
ont. The warriors had arranged them
selves IN two lines, and were armed
with clubs and switches. Old Tom WAS
taken 10 the head of the lines, and
warrior who could speak a little English
made him understand that he WIS to
run 10 the foot of the line and return.
and that If he ran fast and strong no
would be set at liberty on his r.turn
This was all stuf, OF course, but 1t il al
ways gwen out TO every prisoner To en-
courage him. The chief called out to
the men not To hit the prisoner too
hard, and all was ready for the StIrt
Tom intended 10 wheel square about
and run for the river. Thoro WAS not
one chance in = thousand for him. but
ne preferred death by the bullet To
death by torture. lie was even braring
himself for his run when there wcrs
shouts OF alarm all around him, and ho
saw two Indian boys comm. down
the valley on horseback, making signs
Is they came. Tom was hurried back
To the lodge, the village was all excite
ment AMI in five minutes 30 warriors
werr riding up the valley. Tom figured
that some Of his party were scouting
around 10 learn his late, and that they
had come INTO the valley AMI hal been
seen 10y the village sentinels. This, as
was afterwards ascertaInci, was the
correct suppos.tIOn-
The Indians dill not return until five
o'clock in the afternoon. At about six
old Tom was brought out a.aIn, and
this time lac Wis tIci To I, stake For
some reason th,. redskins had decided
10 spare him the gauntlet. This was
from no feeling of mercy, of course but
their long ride had probably tired them
out
There was no possible show for me
to make 4 break said tho old man.
Il was hacked up 10 the stout stake,
by strips Of green hide, AMI then they
were ready TO begin business. l saw
them getting their knives and tOmI-
hawks ready to throw ~ me, and in my
desperation and despair | rallied out 1t
them. speaking the first woris since my
capture. | rcyilrd AMI cursed them
and dared them to do their worst. and
while | WAS speaking the sub chef, who
was the hca! Of the village, and whose
!.
arms and fell back dead"
The chief was no doubt predisposcd
to heart disease. lie had been in the
saddle for six or seven hours lIborIng
under keen excitement all the time
and II needed only the increased excite
ment brought on 10y the hunters de-
nUnCIatiOn to precIpItate the fatal stroke.
That the Indians cOnsidere ! il an act of
Divine vengeance WAS plain in mo-
ment IL WAS scarcely known that he
was dead before Tom WA united and
conducted back to the lodge, and the
village at once went into mourning.
1T was two days before they buried
him. said Ton, "Ind meanwhile l was
well treated, but closely guarded. ON
the third day ! was taken out again.
had heard the reds discussing the mat
ter from all stanlpoints. Some contend
el that | WAS an evil spirit, an! If not
permitted to depart would work them
some terrible calamity, while others
argued that / pust be burned and NV
ashes scattered TO the winds to propit-
late the evil one. Those who he'll 10
the latter opinion were in the majority.
j was not 10 be tortured, but burned
alive"
He was tied to the same stake, and
the faccots heaped around him, but
just rs they were being lighted ne broke
out IN fierce raillery again. His words
affected the whole crowd, but he would
no doubt have perished had not nature